The Isle of Mitluvia

"Isle of the Living..."

The tropical isle of Mitluvia is a self-governed haven for the displaced and the exiled. Of all the disparate lands to which the displaced mages of Hariel Majour fled after the Sundering, Mitluvia is the most isolated, and the most bizarre.
It consists of a smattering of townships and cities, most of which are too small to bear mention. It's only two port towns of any size are "Mishia" (on the eastern side of the island, connecting to the Inner Sea) and the town known only as "Cove" on the southern tip. Both of these ports have but limited supplies, and neither can dock any ship larger than a galleon.
Mitluvia also features several odd places of interest, including several ruined temples to long forgotten gods. Some claim to have discovered graven monuments to Pyruss, the "Lord of Solitude," long thought lost to mortal memory. However, none are quite so mysterious as the sovereign, self-contained city of Rinkos...

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RINKOS

Oft called "The City of Life" (sometimes ironically), it was built by, and is home to, those magical elite who decided to not make the exodus to Varuum during the magic purge (after the Sundering). As the other towns dotting the island existed prior to their arrival, this "new" city is somewhat unique, and exclusive. Here, the mages weren't forced to integrate with the native islanders, rather they forged their own private hideaway. A place to continue their work, far (enough) from the prying eyes of Wyeth.
There are rumors of dark happenings within the city's impenetrable walls. Some say the residents worship and venerate Ryktuss, the god of death. Others say they pay homage to his brother, and attempted usurper, Krytuss. Further rumors persist that the residents play "games with death" as if it were some sort of science project. That they have the means to somehow manipulate it, and alter its nature.
The few Rinkosian residents who venture forth from its walls seem never to advance in age or appearance, even over multiple decades. As such, some seek out the hidden settlement seeking a fountain of youth. It seems that all (or nearly all) are turned away. Admittance to Rinkos is on an invite only basis, and few seem to know how to get such an invitation.
There are thousands of rumors regarding supposed notable residents, from world leaders long presumed dead, to influential mages who allegedly "live on" without resorting to lichdom. There's even word of a long dead actress, famous over two hundred years ago, who still walks the city battlements at night.
No outsider is certain as to the number and disposition of people living within the high city walls, and Rinkos itself seems to almost be sworn to secrecy regarding pretty much everything.
The city is a magocracy governed by a council consisting of mages, sorcerers and warlocks, all originally Northern practitioners of the Art, displaced by Hariel Majour’s magic inquisitions. Mind you, according to rumor, they are not descendants of those exiled nearly two thousand years past, rather the very same travelers.

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FORBIDDEN SECRETS...

The City of Life holds a precious secret. That of practical immortality. If this is actually true, apparently the ritual that allows all those behind Rinkos' walls to effectively live forever involves the creation of "death's scape-goat," meaning a normal mortal who is physically and spiritually transformed, via some arcane ritual, into the literal personification of death. This necromantic "avatar" or "proxy" is then cast out from the sealed-off city, banished from its walls, where it cannot claim another “victim.” As it is now, bound in mortal flesh and blood, it must obey the tenets of physics. Where it cannot pass, it cannot take lives.
This is where the story seems to breakdown for those of an analytical mindset. So many questions come to mind. Which god does the avatar represent? Krytuss? Ryktuss? Some other, forgotten Lord of Death? Where does this avatar go once repelled from Rinkos? Can others fall victim to it's necrotic touch? Why hasn't anyone encountered this death-made-man? Or have they? Have they seen him and just not realized?
They say when you travel in Mitluvia and come across a lone stranger, show them kindness. For you never know if you are in the midst of an encounter with death.

Geography

Just Southwest of the seaport metropolis of Angleport lies the large and mostly uncharted island of Mitluvia. Part jungle, part blasted earth (apparently the result of blood magic), it is the land of exiled mages. After The Sundering, when all magic users in Hariel Majour were being persecuted, the majority of them made the grand exodus to Hariel Minuta, where they established the magic-rich city of Varuum.
Some however, chose to cross the Western Sea to a large, uncharted island (feared by Hariel Majour's oldest native races) that they named Mitluvia. These mages are possibly even more secretive than The Boorka, but are largely left to their own devices, as they are strict isolationists.
Despite this, legends tell of the fabled City of Life, where it is said those within its walls live eternally through the rich magic of the island itself. Others say the reason why the residents are so secretive is that their longevity is due to the accursed and illegal use of blood magic (which requires humanoid sacrifice).
They say the spent blood of the lambs spread and seeped into the earth, causing the various pockets of blasted, dead soil that can actually be seen via telescope from Angleport.

Fauna & Flora

The lush tropical forests of Mitluvia become more and more jungle-like the closer you move to the island's center. Here, as in Chult, all manner of forgotten beasts allegedly dwell. Many creatures thought to have gone extinct are alleged to live on within the deepest portions of the thick greenery.
In Mitluvia, one must be wary when traveling. For even if the lost creatures do not consume you, perhaps the animated plants might.

Alternative Name(s)

"The City of Life"

Type

Island

Location under

The Known World

Contested By

• Wyeth